Woodlands Checkpoint extension

Woodlands Checkpoint extension to be built at Old Woodlands Town Centre

An extension of the Woodlands Checkpoint will be built at the Old Woodlands Town Centre as part of efforts to upgrade the checkpoint, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and Singapore Land Authority (SLA) said on Thursday (Mar 30).

To build the extension, two privately owned plots of land within the town centre - 268 Woodlands Centre Road, or Woodlands Point, and 270 Woodlands Centre Road - will be acquired by the authorities. Both land plots are located immediately east of the current checkpoint.

The total land area to be acquired is 3,264 sqm, and the land was gazetted by SLA for acquisition on Thursday.

Three lessees and 14 tenants are affected, SLA said, adding that it will assist affected owners and tenants throughout the acquisition process.

"As the sites are needed for the extension of the Woodlands Checkpoint, we have given the affected lessees and tenants 18 months (by Oct 1, 2018) to hand over the properties," a spokesperson said.

Market value compensation as at the date of gazette will also be paid, he added.

EXTENSION TO INCREASE CAPACITY, SECURITY

The extension of the checkpoint will increase the clearance capacity and enhance security, ICA and SLA said in the joint news release.

“Since the opening of WCP (Woodlands Checkpoint) in 1999, traveller and vehicle volumes through WCP have been increasing over the years while the security threat has heightened significantly. The WCP has to be upgraded to meet growing traffic needs and ensure that immigration clearance remains secure,” the release said.

ICA said it is conducting a feasibility study to determine the optimal design of the extension and the full extent of upgrading and redevelopment works required.

The Old Woodlands Town Centre, which housed a cinema, bus interchange, hawker centre and retail shops in its heyday, was earmarked for redevelopment by the Housing & Development Board under the Selective En Bloc Redevelopment Scheme in June 2012.

Upgrading works will be progressively carried out at the existing Woodlands Checkpoint without compromising checkpoint operations, ICA and SLA said.

~News courtesy of Channel News Asia~

Zouk ranked 4th best club in the world; Ce La Vi rises to 80th

Zouk ranked 4th best club in the world; Ce La Vi rises to 80th

Iconic Singapore club Zouk rose two places in the 2017 DJ Mag Top 100 Clubs poll to rank as the world's fourth-best club and top in Asia after moving to its new premises at Clarke Quay.

This is the club's best ranking in the international polls to date in the 11 years it has been listed in the UK magazine's Top 100 Clubs list, Zouk Singapore said in a news release on Friday (Mar 31).

The annual poll receives almost half a million votes each year, according to its website, and claims to be "the definitive guide to the planet's best dancefloors".

DJ Mag said on its website that while Zouk's location and layout might be different, "the DJs are still of the highest calibre you'd expect from this Far Eastern juggernaut".

Zouk CEO Andrew Li said the win was " a great catalyst and affirmation that we are progressing in the right direction".

Space Ibiza retained its top spot in the rankings from last year, while UK nightspot Fabric took second place from Brazilian club Green Valley, which slid down to third.

Another Singapore club, Ce La Vi at Marina Bay Sands, also rose 10 spots in the rankings to the 80th position, from its debut at 90th place last year.

~News courtesy of Channel News Asia~

Conservation-focused Learning Forest opens at Singapore Botanic Gardens

Conservation-focused Learning Forest opens at Singapore Botanic Gardens

A new, conservation-focused section of the Singapore Botanic Gardens was opened by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Friday (Mar 31).

Located within the Tyersall-Gallop extension of the Gardens, the 10-hectare Learning Forest aims to restore the natural conditions of lowland forests and wetlands in the area, as well as bolster conservation efforts of local plant species.

Previously used for agricultural purposes in the 19th century, after which it was used for large residential estates, the site was carefully restored based on detailed site surveys and old maps.

The Learning Forest now forms part of the protective buffer zone around the UNESCO Heritage Site portions of the existing Botanic Gardens. It integrates with the Gardens' existing 6ha of primary rainforest - one of Singapore's last remaining tracts of such habitats.



An orchid island showcasing rare swamp orchids in their natural habitat. (Photo: Loke Kok Fai)

The site features swamp orchids in their natural habitat, local plant species discovered and documented by several of Singapore’s pioneering botanists, a collection of wild variants of local fruits like lychees and mangosteens, as well as an elevated boardwalk among some of the tallest rainforest trees - several more than 100 years old.

It is also home to more than 600 new plant species – many of them rare or endangered, as well as 200 species of wildlife including birds, mammals, reptiles and butterflies. It will serve as a reference for ongoing research work in the field of restoration ecology for the region.



An elevated boardwalk allows visitors to walk among the rainforest trees. (Photo: Loke Kok Fai)

The Learning Forest is divided into five sections: The Keppel Discovery Wetlands, the SPH Walk of Giants, the Lowland Rainforest, the Wild Fruit Trees Arboretum and the Bambusetum which features over 30 species of tropical bamboos.

The discovery wetlands, for instance, was supported with a donation of S$2.08 million from Keppel Corporation.

VOLUNTEERS TO HELP MONITOR GARDENS’ ECOLOGICAL HEALTH

Speaking at the opening event, Mr Lee said the Learning Forest builds on the Botanic Gardens’ "legacy of conservation and improvement".

"Ultimately, our Botanic Gardens thrive not because of the interesting mix of plants, but because within it, there's life," he said.

"It's teeming with activity, it's loved and nurtured by the community, by all age groups."

He also announced that National Parks Board (NParks) will launch a new Citizen Science programme, where volunteers can help monitor the long-term ecological health of the Botanic Gardens. This includes submitting sightings of animals spotted in the Gardens using the SGBioAtlas mobile app.

"This is NParks' version of Pokemon GO, with a purpose," said Mr Lee. "Real animals which you capture on your smartphone. And the data which you collect will help NParks to monitor animal populations and improve conservation and biodiversity."

The Learning Forest can be accessed from Tyersall Avenue, near the Gardens' Swan Lake. Its opening hours are from 5am to midnight, except for the boardwalk and wetlands which are open from 7am to 7pm to avoid disturbing wildlife at night, NParks said.

~News courtesy of Channel News Asia~

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